1983 TOURNAMENT
West Indies were hot favourites to complete a hat-trick of
World Cup wins in 1983, in the last tournament to date to be
staged in England. With Sri Lanka now elevated to Test
ranks, only one country was able to progress from the ICC
trophy (the competition for the 'minor' nations): Zimbabwe
won through, and inflicted an embarrassing defeat on
Australia in their first match in the competition proper.
Once again, the teams had been split into two groups of
four, but this time they played each other twice each, thus
doubling the number of matches played.
Australia's mishap against Zimbabwe -- and another
setback at India's hand -- cost them a place in the semi
finals, where West Indies completed a straightforward
victory over Pakistan. At Old Trafford, surpise packets
India had an equally comfortable
victory over England, whose disappointing total of 213
never looked enough to test a talented batting side.
West Indies were overwhelming favourites for the final,
played at Lord's on June 25. India, after all, had won only
one match in the 1975 and 1979 competitions, and that
against minnows East Africa. West Indies seemed set for an
easy victory when they dismissed India for 183, Srikkanth
top scoring with 38. Andy Roberts, one of the four survivors
from the 1975 final, returned the best bowling figures: he
took 3 for 32, his analysis including the vital wicket of
the prolific Sunil Gavaskar for 2.
West Indies seemed to be cruising to victory at 50 for
1, but then a fine running catch by Kapil Dev to dispose of
Richards, and an untimely injury which restricted Llyod,
slowed the champions down. India's eager medium pacers
chipped away at the middle order,
and suddenly West Indies were facing defeat. The gentle
floater of Amarnath, the eventual man of the match,
accounted for three late wickets, and India had won a famous
victory, one which assured all the team members of celebrity
status back home.
(Source: Wisden Cricket Monthly, February 1992)
Thanks to Bhanu Kapoor (kapoor@hc.ti.com) on r.s.c.
Contributed by The Management (help@*nodak.edu)
